§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Minister of the Welsh Assembly concerning the Cubie report. [105927]
§ Mr. Hanson[holding answer 24 January 2000]: I recently met the National Assembly for Wales Secretary for Training and Education Tom Middlehurst, when we discussed the Cubie report. The Cubie report is a report to the Scottish Executive on student finance, an area of responsibility that has not been devolved to the National Assembly for Wales. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has announced that he has set aside resources for a major new package of extra measures to widen access to higher education and tackle student hardship in England and Wales. Mr. Middlehurst will be announcing in due course increased help for students at higher education institutions in Wales through the Assembly's HE Student Access funds.